Linoleum-display rack



May 10 1927. 1,627,783

H; F. KLEIN LINOLEUM DISPLAY RACK Filed March 15, 1925 INVEZNTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITE-D STATES HEBIBERT F. KLEIN, QF DEERFIELD, WISCONSIN.

LINOLEUM-DISPLAY RACK.

.- Application filed March 13, 1925. SerialNo. 15,191.

This invention relates to improvements in linoleum display racks.

Linoleum is usually ti htly. rolled when supplied to dealers and the rolls are large and heavy and difiicult to handle in such a way that the pattern or" the linoleum may be displayed with convenience. It is an object of this invention to provide a novel and improved rack equipped with means for supporting in position for display a plurality of rolls of linoleum, such rolls being preferably expanded to a uniform diameter sufiiciently large. so that the pattern of the linoleum of each roll will be adequately exposed.

Another objectof this invention is .to provide a novel and improved display rack upon which the rolls of linoleum may be conveniently mounted and from which they may be as conveniently removed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a noveland improved internal. support taking the form of a single wire ring incorporatinginteriorly a clip for engaging the margin of a strip of linoleumtwhereby to maintain the ring operatively in a'position to support the roll in an expandedposition.

In the drawings: j I ;Fig. 1 is a side elevation of display mechchanism embodying this invention.

-Fig.;2 is a front elevation otsuch anism.

Fig. 3 is an mechenlarged fragmentary detail taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Fig. 4 isa detail in perspective of the clip portion of the expanding ring forming a part ofzmy device.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the severalviews.

/Vhile anyone'ofthe several sectionscomprising the improved display rack herein disclosed may be separately employed 1 have nevertheless chosen to. show a-plurality of associated sections. -Each such section includes a bearing member 10 supported en the floor. 11 and anjupright shaft 12; j0urnaljed in the bearing lTlGHlbQl fOI-TQl33ilQn-.QI1;;ltS axis. and guided at its upper by; suitable brackets. orfittings: 13 supported-by an arm .14.:fronrthe-.wall'15. lVhere a-1nnmber; -of "dill erentsections, are: associated: asishownjn Figure 2 of the drawings,--'the fittings 13- of intermediate sections may take the 01331; of

standard: "T couplings; and may be nected by spacing pipes 16. On each end; of

outermost spacing pipes 16 the. fittings 13 may take the form of that shown in Figure l and at the left of Figure 2 in which a three way connection is employed to secure arm 14 with pipe section 16. The arm 14 may be bolted-to the wall as indicated and one such arm at each end of the rack will maintain all of. the fittings 13 in such positions as to guide shafts 12 for rotation upon their respective vertical axes therefore, that the frame portion of my im-v proved rack can be readily and economically constructed from standard pipes and pipe fittings.

Centrally apertured to receiveeach pipe 12. is av disk or table 20 connected thereto by means of diagonal braces 21 which extend downwardly in radialplanes equally spaced about the periphery or disk or table 20. The vertical components of these braces adapt them to perform the functions ofpartitions to space equidistantly on table 20 a number of rolls of linoleum corresponding to. the number of spaces between the braces 21. In thev arrangement j illustrated four braces are used and the're are four open areas between such braces upon which linoleum rolls may be stood on end on each table 20.

,In oi'der to maintain the linoleum rolls erect and properly spaced I provide at a suitable. elevation on each pipe 12 a number of. radially projecting arms 23 each of whichis 'disposed in a vertical radial plane including oneof .thebraces 21 The arms 23 may. conveniently be mounted upon an an-' nulus 24 bolted to pipe 12 as shown in Figure 3. These arms, being disposed in the same planes as the. braces, are likewise received between rolls .of linoleum mounted on the rack. and serve to .maintain. such rolls evenly spaced anderect. v

In order to keep the linoleum rolls secured againstthe possibility of falling outwardly from between two adjacent arms of vthejrackl. provide each such 'arm with an eye or pair of eyes at 25 to which flexible connectors 26 are detachably secured. by

the r silien semes r s pret mb y s tha -mainta n t inol um e l-und r. a light pressure tendmgto force it into contact w th. a ms 2 11mm eith ideth r e the righn-handside of Figure. 2 each or all It will be apparent,

of the flexible connectors or springs 26 are shown depending upon their respective arms and in readiness to receive rolls of linoleum. When the rolls are in place each of the connectors 26 will be stretched sufficiently around its given roll of linoleum to permit its hook 27 to be engaged in the eye carried by the next adjacent arm 23. Thereupon the several rolls of linoleum will be confined between divergent arms of the device and the correspondingly divergent braces thereof in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Rolls of linoleum vary in size within comparatively wide limits according to the tightness with which the linoleum is rolled. Linoleum tends to retain its closely rolled position and it is difficult to re-wind a number of rolls with any accuracy to a given diameter. Yet it is very desirable in con nection with the rack above disclosed to have the rolls of substantially uniform tightness both for the sake of appearance and in order to enable the different parts of the rack to cooperate effectively with the size of the roll which they are designed to accommodate.

Accordingly I have provided a simple annular device which I call an expander and which supports the roll interior-1y to maintain it at the proper distention without adding materially to its weight.

This device is shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4 and comprises a ring 30 of wire, the ends of which are joined to comprise a clip for engaging the margin of a strip of linoleum. The end 31 of the wire is bent downwardly at 32 as viewed in Figure 3 and is thence coiled as at 33 in a plane which is tangential to ring 30. The wire is thence extended in a second coil 34 having a bend formed at 35 therein to afford clearance for the end 36 of ring 30. This second coil terminates at 37 the end of the wire being bent parallel to portion 31 thereof and in close proximity thereto.

The portion 36 of ring 30 after passing through the bend. 35 extends across a diameter of coils 33 and 34 as shown at 38 and is bent sharply outwardly at 39 in substantially the plane of ring 30 to encircle the first coil 33 of the clip. Thence the end of the wire is wound as at 40 around portions 31 at 37 of the wire to retain and bind such portions together. The band or elbow at 39 slightly increases the diameter of the ring at this point and has a tendency to prevent axial movement between successive coils of the rug. In other words, when the rug is being carried in a substantially vertical position, it has a tendency to open up telescopically, which tendency is counteracted by the presence of this bend which underlies adjacent turns of the rug.

'Thus'there is formed integrally a ring 30 and a clip which includes the coils 33 and 34. The space between successive convolutions or coils is substantially tangential to the ring. The wire of which the expanded device is formed has a certain degree of resilience and is preferably so stiff as to resist any tendency to yield under pressure. Accordingly the two coils 33 and 34 tend to retain the closely nested positions as illustrated and will engage rather firmly a strip of linoleum introduced therebetween as at 41.

In practice the linoleum is unwound from the rolls in which it is originally received and to its inner margin 1 preferably fasten two or more of the expanding devices herein illustrated The margin of the linoleum is between coils 33 and 34 of the clipping portion of the expanding device as clearly shown in Figure 3. Thereupon the roll is re-wound about the expanding device as a core. The

ring port-ion 30 of each expanding device cooperates with ring portions of other expanders to comprise practically a skeleton core of extremely light weight and great strength which resists the tendency of the roll to contract to its original tightly rolled condition. As a result of the uses of these expanders, all of the rolls are wound to substantially uniform diameter so that they can e fectively be mounted on a particular display rack. Any slight variation in diam eter resulting from a variation in the amount of material in the roll is readily compensated for by the resilience of the flexible sprin connectors 26.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a ring of wire formed integrally to provide a clip, said clip including a work engaging portion positioned to receive work disposed tangentially of said ring.

2. In a device of the character described, a ring comprising a piece of wire formed at one of its extremities to provide a plurality of coils about an axis substantially radial with respect to the ring, said extremity being brought from said coils back upon itself, the other extremity of said coil being extended diametrically across said coils and wound about said first mentioned extremity and adjacent portions of the wire compris ing said ring.

3. In a device of the character described, a ring comprising a piece of wire formed at one of its extremities to provide a plurality of coils about an axis substantially radial with respect to the ring, said extremity being brought from said coils back upon itself, the other extremity of said coil being extended diametrically across said coils and wound about said first mentioned extremity and adjacent portions of the wire comprising said ring, the second extremity of said wire being passed between said coils whereby to position said coils with reference to said ring. 1 V

4. In a device of the character described, a ring comprising a piece of wire formed at one of its extremities to provide a plurality of coils about an axis substantially radial with respect to the ring, said extremity being brought from said coils back upon itself,-

the other extremity of said coil being extended diametrically across said coils and wound about said first mentioned extremity and adjacent portions of the wire comprising said ring, the second extremity of said wire being passed between said coils whereby to position said'coils with reference to said ring, and one of said coils being provided with an offset whereby to accommodate said second extremity of said wire while remaining in proximity to another of said coils.

5. In a new article of manufacture, an integral ring and clip comprising a piece of wire having its intermediate portion bent to the form of a ring, a first extremity of said wire being formed into a pair of closely adjacent coils and being bent back upon the adjacent portion of the ring and a second extremity of said wire being extended diametrically across said coils and therebetween and being wound about said first extremity and the adjacent intermediate portion of said ring, said coils yieldably separable to receive an object tangential with respect to said ring and being normally secured against separation.

6. As a new article of manufacture, an annulus having a clip upon its periphery provided with relatively adjustable jaws, one of said jaws being integral with said annulus and the other of said jaws being connected with said annulus and resiliently pressed in the direction of said first mentioned jaw.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a ring having a work engaging cllp on its periphery and having a portion projected radially beyond said clip and adapted to engage additional portions of the work.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a ring having a work engaging clip on its periphery comprising a pair of jaws opening in a direction parallel to the axis of said ring and normally subject to pressure adapted to engage a coil of material thereb tween, said ring being provided with a part projecting radially beyond said jaws and adapted to abut a successive coil of material engaged between said jaws and rolled about said ring.

HERBERT F. KLEIN. 

